Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

network layer
     
         (communications subnet layer) The third lowest
        layer in the {OSI} seven layer model.  The network layer
        determines routing of {packets} of data from sender to
        receiver via the {data link layer} and is used by the
        {transport layer}.  The most common network layer {protocol}
        is {IP}.
     
        (1994-12-13)